Detection of explosive-related compounds with a chemiluminescent enzyme immunosensor

For the rapid and sensitive detection of explosive-related compounds, polyclonal antibody was prepared by immunizing 2,4-dinitrophenyl-gly-hemocyanin (from Keyhole Limpet) to the BALB/c mice, and a chemiluminescent enzyme immunosensor was constructed. The detection ranges of 2,4-dinitrotoluene (2,4-DNT) and 2-amino-4,6-dinitrotoluene (2-ADNT) were 10 similar to 1000 ng/ml using an immunosensor, whereas those obtained by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) were more than 1000 ng/ml. These results indicated that more sensitive (more than 2 order) and more rapid detection could be achieved using an immunosensor. Furthermore, more sensitive detection could be performed by lowering the flow rate on the interaction between antibody and immobilized antigen; 1 similar to 100 ng/ml of 2,4-DNT could be detected.